2 Young Ocean City Surfers Take Titles At Eastern Championships

NAGS HEAD, NJ — Two young Ocean City surfers won their divisions at the in Eastern Surfing Association's 2019 Eastern Surfing Championships.

Brynn Gallagher, 11, won the Girls U12 (11 and under) division. Sophia Whelan, 13, took top honors in Girls U16 (15 and under).

Gallagher also placed fifth in Girls U14 and third in Girls U16, taking the event's "Ironwoman" award as a result. With time running out in the Girls U12 Final heat, Gallagher dropped into a double-overhead wave to score a near-perfect 9.5 and capture the "Hot Wave" title for the entire competition.

The Eastern attracts nearly 300 of the best amateur surfers from the East Coast. Competitors were invited based on Eastern Surfing Association Rankings from its three Regional Championships held in spring.

The ESA event also included a screening of Bethany Hamilton’s new documentary, “Unstoppable,” with Hamilton donating one of her personal comeback competition boards for a giveaway. Ocean City's Mia Gallagher, 13, also an ESA All-Star and competitor in the event, was more than stoked to win the board.

Ocean City residents Ethan Dunn, Jeremy Nordberg, Cooper Jewell, Jackson Jewell and Abby Maglietta also competed.

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